We have been commanded to lay the foundations of Zion and to get all things ready for the return of Him who shall again crown the Holy City with his presence and glory. – Elder Bruce R. McConkie, April 1977 General Conference
Quotes
476. Economic Independence – Brigham Young quote, 1877
Go into debt, and pauperize the whole community, instead of building up Zion. I want you to stop. When we are in a position to build up ourselves, we are building up Zion. Let us sustain ourselves. – Brigham Young, 7/19/1877
471. We are obligated to build Zion – Wilford Woodruff quote, 1867

I rejoice in this work because it is true, because it is the plan of salvation, the eternal law of God that has been revealed to us, and the building up of Zion is what we are called to perform. I think we have done very well considering our traditions and all the difficulties which […]
472. Co-ops are a Stepping Stone – Lorenzo Snow quote, 1878
…I do feel to urge on those brethren who have the means and are in circumstances, to search out the mind and will of God in regard to these matters, and let us try to build up Zion. Zion is the pure in heart. Zion cannot be built up except on the principles of union […]
468. We are obligated to build Zion – Joseph F. Smith quote, 1876

If we are in the line of our duty, we are engaged in a great and glorious cause. It is very essential to our individual welfare that every man and every woman who has entered into the covenant of the Gospel, through repentance and baptism, should feel that as individuals it is their bounden duty […]
463. Co-ops are a stepping stone – George Q. Cannon quote, 1869
As a people we are expecting the day to come when Jesus will descend in the clouds of Heaven; but before this day comes we must be prepared to receive him. The organization of society that exists in the heavens must exist on the earth; the same condition of society, so far as it is […]
467. Early Utahns Were Building Zion – Orson Pratt quote, 1871
We have labored, in the midst of persecution, for forty years past in trying to establish Zion among the Gentiles. – Orson Pratt, 5/26/1871
455. Central to The Gospel – Brigham Young quote, 1853
…we will round up our shoulders, and bear up the ponderous weight, carry the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, gather Israel, redeem Zion, and continue our operations until we bind Satan, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and no power can hinder it…. […]
462. Economic Independence – L. Tom Perry quote, 2001

The Prophet had a design to build a community of Saints [ie. Zion]. He had three major objectives: first, economic; second, educational; and third, spiritual. The Prophet Joseph Smith’s desire was that the Saints should become economically self-sufficient…. A treasured remnant of our heritage of economic self-sufficiency is the Church Welfare Services program. It has […]
454. Its Temporal Too! – Brigham Young quote, 1863
Let us train our minds until we delight in that which is good, lovely and holy, seeking continually after that intelligence which will enable us effectually to build up Zion, which consists in building houses, tabernacles, temples, streets, and every convenience necessary to embellish and beautify, seeking to do the will of the Lord all […]
453. Co-ops are a Stepping Stone – Wilford Woodruff quote, 1873

We must give our earnest support to cooperation, for it is a step in advance towards establishing the Order of Enoch and the building up of the Zion of God. (mic drop) – Wilford Woodruff, 10/8/1873
450. No Need to Wait – Wilford Woodruff quote, 1875

We are blessed above all the people that breathe the breath of life upon the earth, and we are blessed above all other dispensations and generations of men, for the Lord has put into our hands the power to build up his Zion upon the earth, never more to be thrown down, and this is […]
452. Early Utahns Were Building Zion – Brigham Young quote, 1877
We have no business here other than to build up and establish the Zion of God. – Brigham Young, 4/6/1877
445. Building Zion is God’s Will – Parley P. Pratt quote, 1856
…we shall have all the skill, and all the power, and all the wisdom, and all the treasures, and all the means necessary to build up Zion… and do all things necessary to accomplish the purposes of God whereunto we are called. – Parley P. Pratt, April 1856 General Conference
443. We are obligated to build Zion – Wilford Woodruff quote, 1880
We are called of God; we have been chosen, we have been ordained as men who have been called to bear the priesthood and to attend to the ordinances of the house of God, to preach the Gospel, to warn this generation, to build up Zion, to redeem the earth, to erect temples unto the […]
444. Early Utahns Were Building Zion – Brigham Young quote, 1870

Consequently our teachings during Conference will be to instruct the people how to live and order their lives before the Lord and each other; how to accomplish the work devolving upon them in building up Zion on the earth. – Brigham Young, October 1870 General Conference